a nook in the woods (i wish).

i'd like to escape to a little cabin in the woods today. 

to sleep. and sit. and drink. to feel the sunshine peeking through the canopy of trees. 

that is all: a little escape is my wish for the day (or maybe just a little more sleep).

photo by old chum on flickr

books and their nooks.

i slept last night. long and hard. 

and when i finally awoke this morning it was to the sound of pounding rain. pouring rain. pitter-patter-tap-tap-tapping rain.

glorious, glorious rain.

so i literally rolled out of bed taking my white duvet with me, cracked the window, and moved the reading chair just in front. 

and there i sat. with my book. listening and watching and feeling the cool, damp breeze.

and i gave thanks that i asked for both rain boots and an umbrella for christmas. because there's nothing quite like trying navigate the eccentricities of a new york rainstorm if you're ill prepared. 

and then i opened my book and disappeared. into another world. into another life.

i haven't read a book since late last may. i wasn't able to this summer. picked up many, but just couldn't do it. and so it continued through until now, december. a six month reading block. and knowing this period must come to a close i picked up a book that i'd read before. and decided to begin there.

and suddenly, with book in hand, the train ride seems bearable. and waking up on sunday mornings to a world of white seems poignant: a blank canvas to fill with a story between my hands.

don't ever let me go this long again without falling into a book. i'm a far better person when i'm living in two worlds--this one and the one gifted to me by an author with imagination and empathy. 

look again. that's not the turkey.

we had plenty of desserts planned for thanksgiving. we had the fruity desserts covered, the chocolatey, even the traditional. 

there was no need for my ice cream pie concoction. but the ice cream pie has never been about need. it is about whimsy and delight.

and who doesn't need a little more whimsy in their life?

it may have ended up looking something like a turkey and weighing something akin to one, but let me tell you... it was good.

it's quite easy to make: a veritable dumping ground of anything cold and delicious. a pre-made graham cracker crust combined with three or four different flavors of ice cream and  plenty of crushed toffee pieces (think heath bars {or skors}) layered after each different flavor. and voila! done. guaranteed turkey-day (or any holiday for that matter) success. 

a few thanksgiving musings.

thanksgiving in boulder, two years ago

it's 6:30 am and i'm up.

my little green mug of a coffee cup next to me. i like this green mug. it looks something like a plant-potter. it makes getting up easier.

i'm not a good traveler. have i mentioned this? i think have.

i'm one of those people that likes to leave hours and hours in advance so i can just sit at the gate. better safe than sorry, i say. so you can imagine how these new security screenings have me all aflutter.

here's the plan. subway to midtown. huge suitcase in tow (because for whatever reason i never managed to get a medium size one to my manhattan apartment). exercise class (perhaps physique will calm me before the travel?). and then to the airport. this is all plausible, doable.

i've even picked out a special outfit to wear on the plan. because i still believe in that--getting slightly dressed-up for such things. i'm not a sweatpants traveler, no sirree.

did you know thanksgiving is my favorite holiday? i've said this before. i think because it feels like a three-four-day-event more than any other holiday. i however, am not a fan of thanksgiving food, never have been. i've never enjoyed turkey (unless ground) and i'm not a stuffing person. i do however make a mean ice cream pie which basically consist of a a pre-made pie crust, three different flavors (often of the chocolate and toffee family) and crushed heath bars. let me tell you, it takes a real artisan to make this pie. and an artisan i am. we all have our own thanksgiving traditions. the ice cream pie? well, that's mine.

my family drinks champagne on the actual day. i am looking forward to this.

and for whatever reason there's nothing i want so much during my five-day-adventure than a fresh-out-of-the-oven-cinnamon-bun.

i'm even (wait for it) looking forward to the traditional family hike. and i. am. not. a hiker. but there you have it. the dogs come. we all pile in the cars. and if there's any snow or ice on the ground i tend to take a tumble at one or two different points.


and you know what i keep thinking about? thanksgiving two years ago. and this post. and not being able to bring a pair of jeans. and how this time i can. and how it's simultaneously so exciting. and so not a big deal.

i'm trying to leave my worries here in new york. my concerns about my day-jobs and my future. those nasty, little nagging feelings of disbelief and fear. because i get to escape for five days and i sure as hell don't want them catching a ride in my black suitcase. it's big. just not that big.

homeward bound.

i'm gonna level with you. i'm a little bit granola.

and the promise of a week in boulder, colorado (or just outside it) come next tuesday has me breathing a bit easier.

a week of nothing but jeans, dansko clogs, zip-up sweaters, shopping at the spacious whole-foods (as only colorado can produce), family, good food, laughter, morning hikes followed by morning coffee runs, cool-fresh-mountainous air: all respite for the soul.

and then there's thanksgiving. my favorite holiday. something about the glow of a dining room against the quickly-darkening november sky. the people you most love convened in one room offering up gratitude for the gift of one more year.

i'm actually counting down the days...